NEWSBRIEFS (06/02/02)

NEWSBRIEFS

Putin, Robertson hail NATO-Russia pact

BRUSSELS - Speaking at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson after the May 28 signing of a new Russia-NATO cooperation agreement, President Vladimir Putin stated that "since Russia is returning to the family of civilized countries, it only wants its interests taken into account and its voice heard." Mr. Putin also said that although Russia considers itself a part of Europe, its first priority is relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States and the East. He emphasized that Russia will conduct a balanced policy with both East and West. He then cited Winston Churchill, saying that "Russia was never so strong as it wants to be and never so weak as it is thought to be." Lord Robertson said that without Russia the alliance would be unable to cope with the problems of the new century and to respond to new challenges. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ukraine's two Communist parties unite

KYIV - During a congress in Kyiv on May 26, the Communist Party of Ukraine, which was registered in July 1991 and headed by Stanislav Hurenko, merged with the Communist Party of Ukraine, which was registered in October 1993 and headed by Petro Symonenko, UNIAN reported. The Verkhovna Rada banned the activity of the Communist Party in August 1991, which prompted Ukraine's Communists to re-register in 1993 under the leadership of Mr. Symonenko. In the meantime, Mr. Hurenko's party continued its activity despite the ban. The Constitutional Court lifted the Verkhovna Rada's ban on the Communist Party in December 2001. The united Communists excluded President Leonid Kuchma, former President Leonid Kravchuk, and former Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ivan Pliusch from their ranks (the three politicians formally remained members of Mr. Hurenko's organization until May 26, 2002). (RFE/RL Newsline)

Bush, Putin define new relationship

MOSCOW - As expected, U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty on May 24 drastically reducing the strategic nuclear arsenals of each country, Russian and Western news agencies reported. The two presidents also signed a joint declaration on the principles of new strategic relations that states, in part: "We are achieving a new strategic relationship. The era in which the United States and Russia saw each other as an enemy or strategic threat has ended. We are partners and we will cooperate to advance stability, security and economic integration, and to jointly counter global challenges and to help resolve regional conflicts." Both measures were widely hailed in Russia. "This treaty is a serious achievement of Russian diplomacy. A few months ago, the United States did not want to take on any legal obligations, and it appeared that the whole arms-control regime would disintegrate," Sergei Rogov, director of the Institute of the U.S.A. and Canada, said on ORT. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Ex-security chief denies role in arms deal

KYIV - Leonid Derkach, the former chief of the Security Service of Ukraine, denied on May 22 that he was involved in the illegal sale of radar systems to Iraq, the Associated Press reported. Former presidential bodyguard Mykola Melnychenko said at a briefing organized by RFE/RL in Washington on May 21 that he has audio recordings confirming that Mr. Derkach had contacts with the Iraqi and Iranian governments. Mr. Melnychenko also claimed that Mr. Derkach reported to President Leonid Kuchma about a successful sale of Kolchuha anti-aircraft systems to Iraq. Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Carlos Pascual said in Kharkiv on May 23 that Washington has no proof that "an illegal transfer of weapons from Ukraine to Iraq has taken place," UNIAN reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Senate refuses to lift Jackson-Vanik

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate on May 22 passed a non-binding resolution calling for permanent normal trade relations with Russia, but stopped short of lifting the Jackson-Vanik restrictions largely because of the lingering dispute over imports of U.S. poultry to Russia, Western and Russian news agencies reported. Sen. Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who represents a major poultry-producing state, was quoted by Reuters as saying: "I can either be Russia's best friend or worst enemy. They keep fooling around like this, they're going to have me as their enemy." U.S. President George W. Bush had urged the Senate to exempt Russia from the restrictions prior to his summit with President Vladimir Putin this week. (RFE/RL Newsline)

Russia reacts bitterly to resolution

MOSCOW - Russian politicians expressed disappointment on May 23 in response to the U.S. Senate decision on Jackson-Vanik restrictions, Russian news agencies reported. "By citing the controversy over chicken legs, the Democrats have openly acknowledged that Jackson-Vanik does not protect Russian Jews, but American farmers," said Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Federation Council, according to strana.ru. Vice-Chairman of the State Duma Vladimir Zhirinovsky said that the decision "testifies to the weakness of [President George W. Bush's] position at home," the website reported. Margelov on May 22 presented to President Vladimir Putin a report prepared by his committee entitled "U.S. Legislation and Russian Interests," which argues that trade relations between the two countries are "unstable" primarily because of "discriminatory norms in American legislation," ITAR-TASS reported. (RFE/RL Newsline)

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